Ian ‘Spud’ Ferguson remembers exactly how he got his nickname – even though it was given to him before many of us were born.By Glen Atwell
IAN Ferguson fondly remembers the heyday of his nickname ‘Spud’ and can precisely remember its origins, despite the fact it was coined more than half a century ago.
The 64yearold Pakenham resident said the name Spud originated during his primary school years in Albury sometime in the 1950s.
“I remember it was Easter and I was at a friend’s place on a farm,” he said.
“We picked a heap of potatoes one day and my friend’s dad decided to call me ‘spud’.”
The name instantly stuck and remained with Ian until the end of his stay in Albury.
“I think it disappeared about 1960,” he said.
Ian was a keen and talented footballer and played at several different clubs.
“I started at Albury High, then moved to East Ballarat, Stawell and Queenscliff to name a few,” he said.
“But Spud never really followed me – that was a shame.”
Ian said a good nickname was a great thing to have.
“It promotes individuality, it’s unique and more memorable than an ordinary name,” he said.
“I wanted to get Spud going again. It gives a recognition that a common name doesn’t.”
During his playing days, Ian said he barely knew his teammates by their given names.
“I’d look at the teamsheet and see D. Smith and A. Jackson thinking ‘who?’,” he said.
“It was ‘Mullet’ or ‘Trout’ in my book.”
In an amazing coincidence, Ian’s son Simon somehow also ended up with the same nickname.
“At work they nicknamed him Spud, it was bizarre,” Ian said.
“I’m sure noone knew my nickname and then gave it to Simon, but someone might have dug it up.”
Whether divine intervention or just a case of spud in the blood, Ian is not quite sure.
